India asks people to save wickets in AIDS fight

July 14, 2005

India asks people to save " wickets " in AIDS fight

13 Jul 2005 06:48:46 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Kamil Zaheer

NEW DELHI, July 13 (Reuters) - Cricket-mad India is mixing cricket and humour to

promote safe sex and fight AIDS in a bold pilot campaign warning people to save

their " wickets " from " unwanted googlies " and protect their " stumps " .

India has more than five million HIV/AIDS cases, about the same as the AIDS

capital, South Africa, but activists here say the real number of infections is

much higher and growing fast.

In an advertisement on Wednesday by the National AIDS Control Organisation

(NACO) in a national daily, three wooden wickets set against a blue sky are

covered by condoms with a caption reading: " Save your wicket from unwanted

googlies of life. "

" Even in your favourite sport, you never know when you'll lose your stumps. Life

is also unpredictable in the same manner. Why take chances? " the caption said.

In cricket, wickets are also called stumps. A googly is a cricket ball bowled as

if to break one way but actually breaks in the opposite direction to trick the

batsman.

Both terms are familiar to millions who passionately follow the fortunes of the

national cricket team.

In largely conservative India, open talk about condoms is still taboo in rural

areas and small towns.

" Moralising works only to a certain extent. Condom promotion is a must. We

cannot be coy about condoms, " NACO chief S.Y Quraishi told Reuters. Voluntary

groups welcomed the campaign, saying it must be extended.

" Such advertisements will connect with the people as cricket is so popular. It

is the first time we are talking so openly (about condoms and sex), " said Anjali

Gopalan, director of the Naz Foundation, a private HIV/AIDS and sexual health

group.

Health officials say they will see the public response to the initial

advertisements before launching the campaign across India through newspapers and

television.

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency had forecast the number of people with

HIV/AIDS in India could touch 20 million by 2010.

Thousands of Indians cannot afford anti-retroviral drugs, which cost 1,300

rupees ($29.85) a month -- less than one cup of coffee every two days in London

or New York.

NACO has also used Indian team players in TV advertisements this year wearing

protective gear to promote HIV/AIDS awareness.

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